Industry Group DVB Adds Dolby Digital Plus to IPTV Specifications

Feb 14, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 14, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) today announced the decision by the Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB), an industry consortium committed to designing global standards for digital TV, to include Dolby(R) Digital Plus audio technology as an option in the latest version of its Internet protocol television (IPTV) specifications.

These specifications (TS 102 005) outline how IPTV digital television services may be delivered to home receivers over Internet protocol connections. DVB specifications are used by the broadcast industry as a basis for designing compatible transmission products and home receivers.

"Viewers of IPTV services want home cinema-style sound, just like they get on DVD and other digital TV services," commented Jason Power, Market Development Manager, Dolby Laboratories. "With Dolby Digital Plus now included in the DVB specifications, telecom operators can deliver the full Dolby surround sound experience at a data rate that's practical for IPTV."

Dolby Digital Plus (technical name: E-AC-3) is an extension of the Dolby Digital format, an audio standard for DVD-Video players worldwide, and the choice for many existing digital TV broadcasts around the world. Dolby Digital Plus provides IPTV operators with a flexible and efficient multichannel audio solution that maintains many of the advantages of Dolby Digital, such as connectivity to millions of home A/V receivers, while offering lower data rates and added features. Support for the technology is being built into the current generation of chipsets for IPTV.

Dolby Digital Plus has been included in the DVB specifications at the request of operators and electronics manufacturers within the consortium. The Dolby Digital (originally known by its technical name, AC-3) format has also been included. According to the specifications, either technology may be implemented as the sole audio format in an IPTV system. Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital are already also featured in DVB specifications for digital cable satellite and terrestrial transmissions (TS 101 154) and have been selected as audio formats for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc(TM).

Since the industry consortium was created in 1993, the DVB specifications for digital television have been adopted throughout Australia and Europe, and in parts of Africa, North and South America, and Asia.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) develops and delivers products and technologies that make the entertainment experience more realistic and immersive. For more than four decades, Dolby has been at the forefront of defining high-quality audio and surround sound in cinema, broadcast, home audio systems, cars, DVDs, headphones, games, televisions, and personal computers. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance, capabilities and benefits of Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus technologies generally, and for IPTV in particular, the adoption of such technologies with next-generation broadcasting, and the potential benefits that Dolby customers, including broadcasters, content creators, and audiences, may derive from these technologies, are "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. The following important factors, without limitation, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: competition in the market for high-quality audio technologies, rapid changes in technical requirements for IPTV technologies, risks associated with introducing new technologies to broadcasters, risks associated with consumer demand for IPTV technologies, rapid changes in technological requirements for sound entertainment, risks associated with building market acceptance of and demand for Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus technologies, risks associated with having Dolby technologies adopted as industry standards, and other risks detailed in Dolby's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including the risks identified under the section captioned "Risk Factors" in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Dolby disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. S07/17998 DLB-G